The King Of The Apocalypse

Battle for survival

Marcus continued walking toward the shopping district and the farther he moved from Aurora Tower, the more dangerous the streets became. Abandoned vehicles blocked several roads, forcing him to take longer routes through deserted streets and narrow passages.

He had already walked for nearly an hour but found nothing. 

The sun was high in the sky, but that did not make the city safe. Most of the zombies had disappeared into buildings, underground passages and other places where they could avoid the sunlight. However, they were still out there, waiting for the slightest sound to draw their attention.

Marcus knew better than to make unnecessary noise.He adjusted his backpack and continued walking, occasionally stopping to check his surroundings.

As he continued, his stomach growled but he ignored it.

There was no point thinking about food when he was supposed to be looking for supplies for more than forty people.

After walking for another few minutes, he spotted a small grocery store at the corner of the street.

The entrance was slightly damaged, but the building appeared untouched compared to the others.

Marcus stopped by the entrance gate. 

He looked through the glass entrance, trying to see if anything was moving inside but he found nothing.

He slowly approached the door and pushed it open.

Then, the door made a faint creaking sound and he froze.

Trying to listen to every step but nothing happened.

Taking a careful step inside, he looked around the store. Several shelves had been knocked over, and scattered items covered the floor. However, there were still some foods on the remaining shelves. Bread, biscuits, bottled water and some other valuable foods.

His eyes brightened. At least he wouldn't return empty handed.

He took another step.

Suddenly, something rushed out from behind a shelf.

"Shit!"

Marcus barely had time to react before the zombie lunged at him.

Unlike the slow zombies wandering outside, this one moved frighteningly fast. Its body slammed into him, sending him stumbling backward.

Marcus struggled to keep it away but the zombie snapped at him again with full force, its hands reaching desperately for his clothes.

He managed to push it aside, but it immediately came after him again.

Marcus grabbed his baton.

The next few seconds were a struggle.

He narrowly avoided the creature's grasp before striking it hard enough to stop its movement. When it attempted to rise again, Marcus struck once more and the zombie finally collapsed.

Marcus stood still for some minutes, breathing heavily.

That had been too close.

He glanced toward the entrance, worried that the noise might have attracted others.

But nothing appeared outside for the moment.

He waited a few more seconds before returning his attention to the shelves.

There was no time to waste.

Marcus began gathering whatever useful supplies he could find. He placed canned food, bottled water, biscuits and other packaged items inside his backpack.

He worked carefully, avoiding anything that might fall and create unnecessary noise.

By the time he finished, his backpack was almost full.

He looked at the remaining supplies.

There was still plenty of food he could take. Marcus hesitated before removing the backpack and arranging some of the heavier items inside it.

He needed to take as much as possible.

Derek had demanded enough food to last forty people for three days. Returning with only a few cans would not be enough.

When he finally stepped outside, he noticed a bicycle leaning against an abandoned vehicle.

Marcus's eyes brightened.

"Thank goodness."

He hurried toward it, although the weight of his backpack made every step uncomfortable.

He was almost there when a loud crash came from the building behind him.

Marcus turned.

Another zombie had emerged from the grocery store.

It rushed toward him with alarming speed.

"Not again!"

Marcus grabbed the bicycle and struggled to get it moving.

The zombie was getting closer.

He pushed himself forward, almost losing his balance as the bicycle moved across the road.

A low growl sounded behind him.

Marcus didn't look back.

He continued moving until he reached a nearby building. Fortunately, its entrance was slightly open.

He abandoned the bicycle near the doorway and rushed inside with his supplies.

After closing the door, he leaned against it, trying to catch his breath.

His chest rose and fell rapidly.

For several seconds, he couldn't think about anything except breathing.

He had barely survived the grocery store. And now, another zombie was somewhere outside.

Marcus slowly slid down the wall and placed his backpack beside him.

“I can't do it alone, I need help.” Marcus thought to himself, breathing heavily.

He reached into his pocket for his phone but he couldn't find it.

He checked the other pocket.

Still nothing and his expression changed immediately.

"Where is it?"

He searched his jacket and backpack, but the phone was nowhere to be found.

Perhaps he had dropped it during the struggle outside the grocery store.

Marcus rubbed his forehead.

Without his phone, he couldn't contact anyone at Aurora Tower. He couldn't even ask for someone to come and help him transport the supplies.

For a moment, he considered abandoning some of the food.

But Derek's warning returned to his mind.

“You're not coming back empty handed.”

Then he remembered Elena.

Her gentle voice, the reassuring smile and the kiss she had given him before he left.

“I knew I could count on you.”

Marcus closed his eyes briefly.

He couldn't return empty handed. Not after promising her.

He stood up, adjusted his backpack and looked toward the entrance.

"Just a little farther," he muttered.

He had no idea how he would manage it, but he had to try.